MRI guided ROLL/SNOLL in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. / ROLL/SNOLL guiado por resonancia magnética en pacientes con cáncer de mama tratadas con quimioterapia neoadyuvante.

PURPOSE: To describe the results of MRI (magnetic resonance image) guided ROLL (radioguided occult lesion localization) and SNOLL (sentinel node occult lesion localization) in the localization of residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, as well as assessing the surgical results obtained and disease free survival. METHODS: Prospective observational analysis of 132 patients with 136 tumors, treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy at our hospital between 2011-2017. Residual disease was located presurgically with MRI guided ROLL/SNOLL technique. We analyzed technical aspects of localization, and variables corresponding to surgical procedures and events occurred during follow-up. RESULTS: The median tumor size was of 20.5mm (interquartilic range [IQR]: 14-28). The majority (96.3%) were invasive ductal carcinomas. Sentinel lymph node detection rate was 98.9%. Complete pathological response (CPR) in the breast was achieved in 58.1% of cases. The rate of affected margins in 89 cases operated by conservative surgery was 2.2%. With a median follow-up of 50 months (IQR: 37-61) we found a 7.4% rate of relapses. Of these, seven were loco-regional and three at distant sites. The estimated mean of disease-free survival time was 83.2 months (Confidence Interval [CI] 95%: 79.6-86.6). CONCLUSIONS: MRI guided ROLL/SNOLL is a great tool for breast cancer residual disease localization following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In addition, this technique attains good loco-regional control of the diseases and has excellent surgical results.

Expression of the beta-chain of the complement regulator C4b-binding protein in human ovary.

Human C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is an important regulator of the complement system that also binds and inactivates the anticoagulant vitamin K-dependent protein S. These two activities are performed by two distinct polypeptides of 70 kDa and 45 kDa known as alpha and beta chains, respectively. C4BP is present in plasma in various isoforms with different alpha/beta composition. We report here that C4BPbeta, but not C4BPalpha, is expressed in adult human ovary. Expression of C4BPbeta was detected in all ovarian biopsies analyzed (n = 15), independently of age and phase of the menstrual cycle. In situ hybridization and immunostaining analyses on cryostat sections demonstrated expression of C4BPbeta in both regressing corpus luteum and corpus albicans, but not in the follicles, the corpus luteum, the ovary stroma or the vascular cells. In addition, we noted that the expression pattern of the C4BPbeta mRNA resembles that described for the connective tissue that invades the degenerating corpus luteum and causes a progressive fibrosis that gradually converts it into a scar, the corpus albicans. RT-PCR and immunostaining analyses of primary cultures derived from human ovaries demonstrated the presence of fibroblast-like cells that express C4BPbeta. As a whole, these data suggest a role for the C4BPbeta in human ovary during the healing and scar resorption processes that leads to the formation of the corpus albicans and its replacement by ovarian stroma.

Ultrasonographic appearance of an echinococcus ovarian cyst.

BACKGROUND: We describe the ultrasonographic pattern of a pelvic echinococcus cyst, visualized using a vaginal probe and color Doppler. CASE: A 27-year-old woman presented with an asymptomatic right adnexal mass. Vaginal ultrasonography revealed a cyst in the posterior cul-de-sac, adjacent to the right ovary, with internal septae resembling a maze or an onion slice structure. Color Doppler revealed peripheral vascularization with a low resistance pattern (resistance index 0.6; pulsatility index 0.93). Benign cysts usually have a simple echogenic pattern. In contrast, ovarian carcinomas have a complex internal structure. CONCLUSION: Ovarian echinococcus cysts may have a peculiar ultrasonographic pattern at high-frequency (7.5-MHz) vaginal ultrasonography. Such high-frequency ultrasonography can be a useful tool in the diagnosis of the disease.

En bloc pelvic peritoneal resection of the intraperitoneal pelvic viscera in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: We report the results of 30 patients who underwent en bloc resection of the pelvic peritoneum and all intraperitoneal pelvic viscera in the management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1989 and 1993, 30 consecutive patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer underwent en bloc resection of the pelvic peritoneum and all pelvic viscera, except for the bladder, with a rectosigmoid reanastomosis below the peritoneal reflection. All 30 patients were managed with gastrostomy and hyperalimentation. All patients received six cycles of platinum-based combination chemotherapy; the first cycle was administered prior to discharge. RESULTS: All patients underwent cytoreduction to the largest residual mass less than 1 cm. No major complications were attributed to the gastrointestinal surgery itself. The median hospital stay was 11 days (range, 7-23). We found 26 recurrences (87%) and 14 deaths (47%). The median times to recurrence and death were 12.5 months (range, 8-24) and 23 months (range, 8-63), respectively. Sixteen of the 26 relapses (62%) were found in extraperitoneal locations and 10 (38%) in intraperitoneal locations. Only 3 (12%) of the 26 relapses presented with bowel obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: En bloc resection of the uterus, ovaries, pelvic peritoneum, and rectosigmoid followed by low anterior anastomosis is a safe operation that facilitates complete cytoreductive surgery in poor prognosis patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary: a distinct histologic type with poor prognosis and resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy in stage III disease.

Between 1982 and 1992, 24 women with Stage III clear cell ovarian cancer were identified from the tumor registry. Thirty-four women with Stage III papillary serous tumors treated between 1987 and 1989 were used as a comparison. All patients underwent cytoreductive surgery followed by conventional platinum-based chemotherapy. In the women with clear cell histology, nine (37.5%) had endometriosis in the surgical specimen compared with one (3%) in the papillary serous group (P = 0.002). Ten women (42%) with clear cell histology experienced a thromboembolic event during the course of treatment, compared to six (18%) in the papillary serous group (P = 0.05). In the group with clear cell histology, overall, 70% of women had progressive disease. Fifty-two percent experienced clinical progression while receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. In addition, four patients were found to have progressive disease at second-look laparotomy. Only two patients had a pathologic complete response. In the group with papillary serous histology, 29% overall had progressive disease while on chemotherapy (P = 0.005). The median survival for the women with clear cell histology was 12 months compared to 22 months for those with papillary serous (P = 0.02). For women with clear cell histology, univariate analysis was used to evaluate prognostic factors. Age less than 50 was a poor prognostic factor (P = 0.045). The presence of endometriosis, thromboembolic event, or optimal cytoreduction were not prognostic factors (P = 0.67, P = 0.34, P = 0.39). Patients with advanced clear cell ovarian cancer have a poor response to conventional platinum-based chemotherapy and overall prognosis is poor.

Histologic transformation of benign endometriosis to early epithelial ovarian cancer.

Between 1975 and 1990, 79 patients with Stage I epithelial ovarian cancer were treated at Massachusetts General Hospital. Patients were identified from the tumor registry and medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Pathological slides were evaluated for the presence of endometriosis, specifically looking for malignancy arising in endometriosis. Evidence of endometriosis was found in 22 of the 79 cases (28%). In the 23 cases of endometrioid histology, 9 cases (39%) were associated with endometriosis and, in the 17 cases of clear cell tumors, 7 (41%) were associated with endometriosis. All 8 cases of mixed histology had clear cell and/or endometrioid components and 4 cases (50%) were associated with endometriosis. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma accounted for 41% of the tumors associated with endometriosis, clear cell carcinoma 31%, mixed (endometrioid and/or clear cell types) 18%, and other types 9%. Among the 22 patients with associated endometriosis, we found 7 carcinomas (32%) arising in endometriosis. In these 7 cases a spectrum of benign and atypical endometriosis with a transition to clear cell or endometrioid adenocarcinoma were identified. These premalignant changes were characterized by cytologic atypia and architectural proliferation. Endometriosis was frequently encountered among patients with Stage I epithelial ovarian cancer of endometrioid and clear cell histologies. Endometriosis may play a role in the pathogenesis of some early stage malignant ovarian epithelial neoplasms.

Postoperative management of patients with stage Ib endometrial carcinoma.

Between 1980 and 1990, 124 patients with Stage Ib endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium were treated at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Patients were identified from the tumor registry and medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 124 patients, four (3%) developed a recurrence. Eighty-six patients had grade 1 tumors, 32 grade 2 and 6 grade 3. Recurrences developed in two (2%) of the grade 1 tumors, one (3%) of the grade 2, and one (17%) of the grade 3. Of the 86 patients with grade 1 carcinomas, 58 received no adjuvant radiation, 25 received vaginal vault brachytherapy and 3 whole pelvic radiation (WPR). Of the 32 patients with grade 2 tumors, 13 received no adjuvant therapy, 10 vaginal brachytherapy, and 9 WPR. Of the six patients with grade 3 tumors, one received no adjuvant therapy, two vaginal brachytherapy, and three WPR. Of the four women that relapsed, only the patient with grade 3 tumor had been treated with adjuvant radiation (WPR). Three of the four patients recurred at the vaginal vault and all three were salvaged. Stage Ib, grade 1 and 2, endometrioid adenocarcinomas have a good prognosis and adjuvant radiotherapy is not clearly beneficial.

Prognostic importance of intraoperative rupture of malignant ovarian epithelial neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether rupture of malignant ovarian epithelial tumors at the time of operation influences the patient's overall prognosis. METHODS: Between 1975 and 1990, 79 patients with stage I invasive epithelial ovarian cancer were treated at Massachusetts General Hospital. Patients were identified from the tumor registry, and charts were reviewed retrospectively. In 71 of the 79 cases, pathologic slides were evaluated. Of the 79 patients, 36 had stage Ia tumors, 20 stage Ic secondary to intraoperative rupture (Ic-rupture), and 17 stage Ic secondary to capsular invasion-serosal disease or positive ascites or washings (stage Ic-other). Survival analysis was performed to compare the three groups of patients. RESULTS: There were four recurrences and deaths among the 20 women with stage Ic-rupture tumors (20%), compared to one (3%) among the 36 women with stage Ia. The recurrence-free survival at the median follow-up time for the two groups was 97 +/- 3 and 78 +/- 10 months, respectively (P = .03); overall survival was 97 +/- 3 and 73 +/- 12 months (P = .04). There were two recurrences (12%) and one death (6%) among the 17 women with stage Ic-other, giving recurrence-free and overall survivals of 88 +/- 8 and 94 +/- 6 months, respectively. The survival experience of this last group was not significantly different from that in the Ic-rupture group (P = .2). The hazard ratios for overall survival associated with stage Ic-rupture and each potential confounder, except for bloating, exceeded 6.5, with P < or = .10. All deaths occurred in the 28 patients with grade 2 or 3 tumors. Even in this smaller group, the hazard ratio for stage Ic-rupture was 6.8 (P = .09). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative rupture of malignant epithelial ovarian neoplasms may worsen the prognosis of patients with stage I ovarian cancer.

Analysis for steroid production of a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor.

Sex cord stromal tumors of the ovary can be characterized by the production of virilizing steroid hormones. The authors present a case of a poorly differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor in which ascitic fluid was found to have a high concentration of androgenic hormones and precursors from the delta steroid pathway (17-OH progesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione). These values correlated with samples taken from the right ovarian vein, draining the ovarian neoplasm, but not with those taken from the left ovarian vein or the peripheral blood sample. Selective peritoneal fluid sampling may aid in the diagnosis of hormonally active tumors.

LA-1 oncogene. A possible new prognostic index for evaluating cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions.

Cervical biopsies from 96 patients referred to the Union Memorial Hospital Colposcopy Clinic were analyzed for the expression of the LA-1 oncogene by using an antibody directed against a 13 amino acid epitope of the oncogene product. The expression of the oncogene was found to correlate with the grade of the cervical intraepithelial lesion. A trend was suggested even though chi 2 analysis was not significant (P = .08). Further studies are warranted to determine whether the LA-1 test predicts persistence or progression of the disease.